Apparatus for washing and drying fabrics



Nov. 3, 1959 APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1957 FIGJ.

J. D. HUGHES FOR WASHING AND DRYING FABRICS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Iiullul u WATER LEVEL INVENTOR JO HN D HUGHE ATToR EY Nov. 3,1959 HUGHES 2,910,854

APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DRYING FABRICS Filed Dec. 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN D. HUGHES ATTO NEY United States Patent Application December 11,1957, Serial No. 702,046

5 Claims. 01. 68-18 .;This invention relates to apparatus for washing and drying fabrics and has for an object to provide improved apparatus of this kind.

Further objects of. the invention are to dry fabrics W t relatively low temperature air circulated in large quantities in a dryer and to provide a compact dryer construction for carrying outthis operation.

. Other objects of the invention are to maintain the air translating means for apparatus of the class set forth free of. lint, and to filter lint and, other solids from the wash water during the cleansing of the fabrics.

While the invention is. particularly adaptable to domestic machines in whichclothes are both washed and dried in a common chamber, the invention, in some of its aspects, is applicable to machines wherein a drying operation only is effected.

In practicing the invention, means is provided for tumbling fabrics for washing and drying in a common chamber formed in a generally cylindrical tub, the latter being arranged with its axis horizontal. The .tubis disposed in a casing that is generally rectangular when viewed in a plane normal to the axis of the tub. A pair of air translating blowers are respectively disposed in the spaced upper corners of the casing and have opposed out lets discharging the air to a heater disposed above the tub. Heated air passes from the heater to the .tub and is discharged through the access opening of the latter directly upon the fabrics for the vaporization of water therefrom. The humidified air in the tub is subjected continuously to a cooling film of water for condensing vapor in the air, and the precipitated condensateis discharged from the tub. Air is returned to the blowers'from spaced portions of the tub in a pair of streams and the cycle is repeated. By arrangingthe cylindrical tub and blowers within a rectangular casing, as described, substantially all of the space within the casing is economically utilized. Fur thermore, the heater is disposed in an uppermost region of the apparatus, so that spilling of water from the tub to the heater structure during washing periods is obviated. Another feature of the invention is carried out by circulating washing water through a filter for the removal of solid particles carried in suspension in the water. The filtered water is utilized for the flushing of lint, collected during a prior drying operation, from the blower structure. At this time, the blowers may bedriven by their motors or may be rotated by the streams" of flushing water which are directed upon the runners of the blowers. In this manner, the runners of the blowers are maintained substantially free of lint which, of course, is collected in the water filtering mechanism.

The foregoing and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the foregoing description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a domestic clothes washing and drying machine constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention, portions of the ice 7 2 apparatus being shown in elevation for the sake of clearness;

lineII--IIofFig.l;and j j j Fig. 3 is a perspective of the filter, shown in Figs. 13 and 2, disengaged from the tub structure.

Reference will now be had. to the drawings wherein: a domestic clothes washing and drying machine is dis-- closed, including an outer casing 1 0 that houses a wash-- ing and drying unit, generally indicated at 11. The cas-- ing 10 has a front wall 12 provided with an access opening 13, the latter being closed by a door 14 hinged in; any suitable manner to the front wall 12.

The unit 11 includes a tub 15 having a side wall 1 6; generally cylindrical in configuration and also a front walli 17 provided with an access opening 18, the latter being; in registry with the access opening 13. The tub 15 en:-- closes a common chamber 20 in which fabrics are washed and subsequently dried. The unit 11 also includes a basket 19 for containing the fabrics to be treatedand rm tatable within the chamber 20. The basket 19 includes a cylindrical side wall 21 perforate throughout a substantial portion of its extent; a few of the perforations being indicated at 22. The basket is also provided interiorly with a plurality of vanes 23 extending radially inwardly from the basket side wall and effective to tumble the fabrics during rotation of the basket. The basket 19 has a relatively large access opening 24 registering with the access opening 18 of the tub. A driving shaft 25 suitably journalled in a bearing 26 carried by the rear end of the tub supports the basket and a sheave 27 is fixed to the shaft 25 for rotating the basket. j l

The unit 11 may be supported within the casing 10 in any suitable manner but, as shown, is carried by a hanger 28 fixed, as by welding, to the tub 15 and suspended from, a rod 29 for pendulum-like movement. The rod29 is secured in a bracket structure 31 suitably carried by the casing 10 adjacent the upper margin of its side walls. The: purpose of the flexible support for the unit just describedl is to isolate vibrations excited in the unit 11 during rotation of the basket with an ,unbalancedload. A flexible: support of this type is disclosed and claimed in the patent 1 of Earl K. Clark, No. 2,813,415, granted November 19,. 1957. A chute structure 32 is employed for connecting: the front wall 17 of the tub and the wall 12 of the casing; Where-a; flexible support of the type disclosed is employed, the; chute is formed, at least in part, with a resilient wall per-- tion, indicated at 33, for permitting relative movement;

peripherally of the access openingstherein.

between the unit 11 and the casing 10.

Rotation of the basket 19 is carried out by a drivemechanism, indicated generally at 34 and including, a

37, to the sheave 27.

fabrics within the basket. If centrifuging of the fabrics; is desired subsequent to their washing, the transmission: 36 is of the multiple speed type and adjustable to pro-- vide a higherbasket speed, all of which is well understood. A drive mechanism of the type shown at 34 is? disclosed and claimed in the application of Norman A. Stegman, Serial No. 551,100, filed December 5, 1955, now Patent 2,842,002, granted July 8, 1958.

The motor 35 also functions to drive a pump indicated at 38. by means of friction wheels 39. The pump 38 has an inlet conduit 41 connected to a sump 42 formed in the lowermost portion of the tub 15 for the drainage of water from the tub. The outlet of the pump 38 is connected to a two-way valve indicated at 43 and having a Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, taken along the:

of the valve 43 is shown at 45 connected to a filter mechanism generally indicated at 46 and referred to in detail hereinafter. As two-way valves of the type shown at 43 are well understood in the art, a detailed description of the valve is deemed unnecessary. However, a solenoid 47 may be employed for actuating the valve 43. It will be understood that, when the solenoid 47 is deenergized, the value 43 delivers water to the conduit 44, and when the solenoid is energized, the valve 43 delivers water to the conduit 45. The means for directing water discharged by the pump 38 to drain or to the filter 46, including the two-way valve 43, is shown, by way of example, and it is to be understood that other means for eifecting this operation may be employed. The flow of water is-indicated by solid arrows in the drawing while air fiow is indicated by dotted'arrows.

The apparatus for drying the fabrics subsequent to a washing cycle will now be described. It is desirable in a washer-dryer of the type shown that copious quantities of air be circulated through the chamber 20 in intimate contact with the fabrics and, in accordance with this invention, two blowers 51 and 52 are employed. These blowers are advantageously arranged in the upper, transversely spaced corners of the casing for the delivery of air to a heating structure 53 disposed above the tub and intermediate the blowers. The heating structure 53 may include an electric heater 54 of suitable construction disposed in a shell or housing 55. The opposed outlets of the blowers 51-52 are connected to spaced sides of the shell 55 for the delivery of air to the heater 54. Heated air passes downwardly from the shell 55 through a duct 56 to the chute 32 and thence to the interior of the basket 19 where it intimately engages the fabrics being elevated and dropped by the rotating vanes 23. Air from spaced upper portions of the chamber is withdrawn by the blowers 51 and 52 through their respective inlet conduits 57 and 58 which also serve to support the blowers upon upper portions of the tub 15.

The inlet conduits 57 and 58 may be secured to the tub by the rotating basket 19 within the chamber 20 and over a sheet of cold water 62 introduced througha conduit 63. Vapor is condensed from the portion of the body of air contacting the water and the condensate and the cooling water are translated by the pump 38 through the conduit 44 to a point of discharge, it being understood thatthe solenoid 47 of valve 43 is deenergized during drying operations. From the foregoing, it is believedapparent that moisture in'the fabrics is readily vaporized by the heated air entering the basket and that vapor is continuously being condensed from the region of the bodyof air passing adjacent the cold water sheet 62. When substantially all of the moisture has been vaporized from the fabrics, the motor 35 is deenergized and flow-of cold water to the chamber through the conduit 63 is terminated by a suitable valve (not shown). I

During a drying operation, as described, considerable lint is shaken from the fabrics and is circulated by the blowers. Much of this lint collects within the blower casings and particularly upon the mnners of the blowers, detrimentally affecting their operation. This lint is effectively flushed from the blowers during a subsequent washing operationwhich will now be described.

A washing operation is carried "out by admitting a body of water to the chamber 20 in a conventional manner after the fabrics and a detergent are deposited in the basket 19. It is conceivable that the washing water may be conveyed to the chamber 20 by the conduit 63 but, preferably, a separate water conduit (not shown) is emplayed for this purpose. The basket is driven at low tumbling speed by the drive unit 34 and the valve 43 is energized to direct the water now circulated by the pump 38 to the filter mechanism 46. The latter mechanism includes a tank 65 depending from the chute 32 and enclosing a pervious, cylindrical filtering cartridge 66 of any suitable construction for separating solids from water passed therethrough. The cartridge 66 is hollow and provided with a nipple 67 for directing water entering through the conduit 45 to its interior. Filtered water passes from the tank 65 through a pair of conduits 68 to the blowers 51 and 52 for cleansing the interiors thereof. As shown, the water discharged from the conduits 68 is directed upon the runners 59 for flushing lint there-- from and sothat the runners 59 are rotated by the inertia of the water. If desired, the runners 59 may be driven by their motors 61 at this time. Accordingly, all portions of the runners 59 are cleaned free of lint and the interior of the blower casings are also scoured by water deflected from the runners. Water and lint carried thereby pass from the blowers 51 and 52 through drain fittings 69 to the chamber 20 for delivery to the filter 46, completing the circulating cycle.

The cartridge 66 is readily removable through the access opening 13 for cleaning. As shown, the top of the cartridge is closed by a cover plate 70 having a handle 71 formed thereon so that the plate 70 and cartridge 66 may be turned for removal from the tank 65. A trio of fingers 72 are formed on the underside of the plate 70 and, during assembly of the cartridge to the tank 65, pass through arcuate recesses formed in the chute structure 32 between projections 73. 5 The upper sides of the fingers 72 are tapered as shown and wedge the cartridge downwardly into place when the fingers 72 are turned beneath the projections 73. A. gasket 74 is employed between the cover plate 70 and the chute 32 to provide a fluid tight joint. It will be understood that a sliding fit is provided between the nipple 67 and the inlet opening in the bottom of the tank 65. The filter structure 46 described above is disclosed by way of example and it is understood that there are many forms of filtering mechanisms that may be employed for theremoval of solids from the water. At the end of a washing operation, the valve 43 is deenergized so that. the pump 38 operates to discharge the body of washing water from the chamber 20. Rinsing with a body of fresh water may be carried out for the removal of detergent from the fabrics in the same manner as described in connection with the washing step in the program. It is believedxapparent that various steps in a washing program may be carried out including centrifuging in accordance with well understood practice.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that an improved machine for washing and drying fabrics is provided wherein a-relatively large quantity of air for the drying operation is circulated. Accordingly, the temperature of the .air may be relatively low when compared to conventional machines of similar capacity. The disclosed arrangement of 'the pair ofblowers and heater at the top side of the tub provides for this operation in a domestic .machine without increasing the cabinet. size which, of course, would be objectionable. Also, by disposing the heater above the tub and conveying the heated air downwardly through a duct to the access opening of the basket, as shown, discharge of water from the tub into the air duct is precluded. Furthermore, filtering of the washing waters not only improves washing and rinsing operations but also provides a source of relatively clean water for flushing lint from the air circulating system.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in 'the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is; V 1. Apparatus for drying fabrics or the like, the combination of a generally cylindrical tub structure having a substantially horizontal axis and enclosing; a drying chamber, I, said tub structure having. an access opening provided therein, means for tumbling the fabrics withixi the drying chamber, a casing enclosing the tub structure and having an access opening provided therein registering with the access opening of the tub structure, a chute connecting the casing and the tub structure about their access openings, a door for closing the chute and movably supported by the casing, said casing being generally rectangular in a plane intersecting the cylindrical tub structure and normal to said axis, respective air translating devices disposed within the upper, transversely spaced corners of the casing for withdrawing air from the tub structure, an air heating structure arranged above the tub and intermediate the translating devices for receiving air discharged by the devices, means for conveying heated air from the air heating structure through said chute for contact with the fabrics being tumbled in the tub, means for condensing vapor in the tub, means for discharging condensatefrom the tub, means for circulating water through said air translating devices subsequent to a drying operation for flushing lint from the devices and a filter associated with the water circulating means for the removal of lint carried in suspension in the water.

2. In drying apparatus, the combination of a generally cylindrical tub structure having its axis extending substantially horizontally, a perforate basket arranged within the tub for containing fabrics to be dried, said tub and basket having registering access openings, means rotating the basket, a casing enclosing the tub structure and having an access opening formed therein registering with the access opening of the tub structure, a chute connecting the casing and the tub structure about their access openings, a closure for the chute and carried by the casing, said casing being generally rectangular in a plane normal to said axis, respective air translating devices disposed within the upper, transversely spaced corners of the casing for withdrawing air'from the tub structure, an air heating structure disposed above the tub and between the air translating devices for receiving air discharged by the devices, means conveying heated air from the air heating structure to said chute for passage through the access opening of the basket to the fabrics being dried, means admitting cooling water to the tub for condensing vapor therein, means discharging vitiated water and condensate from the tub, means for circulating water through the tub and said air translating devices subsequent to a drying operation for scouring lint from the air translating devices, and a filter associated with the water circulating means.

3. In drying apparatus, the combination of a generally cylindrical tub structure having a substantially horizontal axis, a generally cylindrical basket arranged within the tub for containing fabrics to be dried and rotatable about said axis, said tub and basket having adjacent front walls provided with respective, registering access openings and said basket having its cylindrical side wall perforate, a casing enclosing the tub structure and having a front wall provided with an access opening aligned substantially with the access opening of the tub, a chute connecting the front walls of the tub and casing peripherally of their access openings, a closure for the access opening of the casing, said casing being generally rectangular in a plane normal to said axis, a pair of air translating blowers carried by the tub and disposed, respectively, in the upper transversely spaced corners of the cabinet, said blowers having respective inlets communicating with angularly spaced regions of the tub and outlets opposed in spaced relation, an air heater and a housing therefor connected to the blowers and receiving air discharged through said opposed outlets, a duct for conveying heated air from 6 said housing to said chute for passage through the access openings of the tub and basket, means associated with the tub for condensing vapor therein, means for discharging condensate from the tub and means for rotating the basket.

4. In apparatus for washing fabrics and subsequently drying the same in a common chamber, the combination of a tub having a generally cylindrical sidewall disposed about a substantially horizontal axis and enclosing a chamber in which fabrics are washed and dried, means for tumbling the fabrics within said chamber, a casing enclosing said tub and being generally rectangular in a plane normal to said axis, said tub and casing having respective registering access openings provided therein, a closure for the access opening of the casing, a wall defining a chute connecting the tub and casing peripherally of the access openings therein, means for admitting water to the tub during cleaning and drying periods, a filter for washing water, pumping means, for withdrawing water from the tub, means adjustable to a first station during washing periods for delivering the withdrawn water to said filter and to a second station during drying periods for discharging the withdrawn water from the apparatus, a pair of blowers disposed, respectively, in the transversely spaced upper corners of said casing for withdrawing air from the chamber during drying operations, air heating means disposed intermediate the blowers for heating air discharged thereby, duct means for conveying the heated air from said air heating means to the chamber, conduits for conveying filtered water from said filter to the blowers during washing operations for the flushing of lint from the blowers, and means draining water and lint from the blowers to the chamber.

5. In apparatus for washing fabrics and subsequently drying the same in a common chamber, the combination of a tub having a generally cylindrical sidewall disposed about a substantially horizontal axis and enclosing a chamber in which fabrics are washed and dried, means for tumbling the fabrics within said chamber, a casing enclosing said tub and being generally rectangular in a plane normal to said axis, said tub and casing having respective, registering access openings provided therein, a closure for the access opening of the casing, a wall defining a chute connecting the tub and casing peripherally of the access openings therein, means for admitting water to the tub during cleaning and drying periods, a filter for the washing water carried by the bottom of the chute and having a removable filtering cartridge accessible from within the chute, pumping means for removing water from the tub, means adjustable to one station for delivering water from the pumping means to the filter and to a second station for discharging water from the apparatus, a pair of air blowers disposed, respectively, in the transversely spaced upper corners of the casing for withdrawing air from the chamber during drying operations, an air heater, a housing therefor disposed between the blowers for receiving air therefrom, means conveying the heated air from said housing to the chute for passage to said chamber, conduit means for conveying water from said filter to said blowers during washing operations for scouring lint therefrom, and means draining water and lint from the blowers to said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,307,254 Bassett Ian. 5, 1943 2,533,888 Kahn Dec. 12, 1950 2,607,209 Constantine Aug. 19, 1952 2,813,414 Johnston Nov. 19, 1957 

